Term
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Definition
| Feudalism was a loosely organised system of rule in which powerful local lords divided their landholdings among lesser lords. |
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Term
| What brought about Feudalism? |
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Definition
| Kings and Emperors were too weak to maintain law and order due to the invasions by the Vikings, Muslims and Magyars. People needed protection for themselves, so Feudalism was created. |
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Term
| Explain the feudal contract. |
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Definition
| The feudal contract was a relationship between lords and vassals. The lord promised to protect his vassal. In return, the vassal pledged loyalty to the lord, provided him with 40 days of military service each year, advice and certain money payments. |
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Term
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Definition
| Lords would grant their vassals a "fief", or an estate. The fief included peasants to work the land and any towns and buildings on the land. |
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Term
| Explain how you could be a lord AND a vassal. |
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Definition
At the top of the feudal society, was the monarch who had powerful lords underneath him, such as dukes or counts. They had their own vassals.
These vassals could have their own vassals too, allowing them to be a vassal and a lord to vassals below you. |
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Term
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Definition
| Sometimes, a vassal might have pledged loyalty to several lords. If these lords quarreled with each other, the vassal wouldn't know where to stand. So vassals usually had a liege lord, who was his first loyalty above the rest. |
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Term
| At what age was a boy slated to become a knight? |
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Definition
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Term
| What did all knights learn? |
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Definition
| They learned to ride, fight and keep their armour and weapons in good condition. |
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Term
| Explain the dubbing of a knight. |
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Definition
| Once a youth completed his training, he was ready to become a knight. Kneeling before an older knight, he bowed his head and was struck with the flat side of sword. At this ceremony, the older knight would say a few words. |
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Term
| What triggered the tournaments to come into existence? Explain what they are, in which years they came into fashion. |
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Definition
| Feudal warfare began to decrease, so lords would invite knights from the surrounding area to enter contests of fighting skill. They first came into fashion in the 1100's, and were as dangerous at that time as real battles. |
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Term
| Castles played a huge role in Feudalism. Describe their fortifications and the importance of being built in strategic locations. |
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Definition
Castles were vast areas of land that were made mainly of high walls made of strong stone. They were able to repel all sorts of attacks, with the use of a moat and drawbridge to funnel attackers into one entrance, controlled inside the castle.
It was important that they were built in good locations, because they needed to be able to command river crossings, harbours or mountain passes. |
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Term
| Noblewomen had a huge role in Feudalism. What were the duties they were responsible for during the absence of males? |
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Definition
| They supervised vassals, managed the household and performed necessary agricultural and medical tasks. Sometimes, they might have to go to war to defend the estate. Some noblewomen took over in politics too. |
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Term
| Did women in medieval times have rights? Explain. |
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Definition
Women's rights were very restricted by the feudal system. Land was usually passed to the eldest son, although a women could receive land as a part of her dowry. Fierce negotiations surrounded widowed, or unmarried women.
A women could regain the rights to her land if her husband died before her. |
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Term
| Reflect on the usual role of women in medieval society. |
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Definition
| Women were sent to friends or relatives for training. They would learn how to spin, weave, supervise servants, read and write. They were expected to bear many children and be dutiful to their husbands. They were arranged into marriage. |
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Term
| Explain the rules of Chivalry. |
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Definition
| Chivalry was a code of conduct for all knights. In warfare, they had to fight fairly. You weren't allowed to attack another knight, if they didn't have armour on. Captured knights were to be treated well, and even released if a promise of a ransom was made. Women were required to be protected and cherished. However, it applied to nobles only, not commoners. |
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Term
| Differentiate between slaves and serfs. |
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Definition
| Most of the peasants that worked on manors were serfs. They weren't free and they couldn't leave the manor without permission. If the manor was granted a new lord, the serfs went along with it. However, unlike slaves, in return for a lifetime of labour, serfs would be allowed to farm a few acres of their own. They were also entitled to protection from the lord from raids or warfare. They could not be forced off their manor either. They were guaranteed food, housing and land. |
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Term
| The life of a peasant was not as bad as the life of a slave, but even then it was extremely harsh. Outline the life of an average peasant. Go into detail. |
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Definition
Men, women and children worked long hours from sunrise to sunset. During planting season, children would help plant seeds, weed other plants and take care of pigs and sheep while their fathers would guide and ox-drawn plough through the fields. The mother would goad the ox into motion by prodding it with a stick.
The peasant family ate bread and vegetables such as peas or cabbage. Meat was rare, unless they poached game on the manor, which risked extreme punishment. Occasionally, a meal might include fish. Entire families of peasants would sleep together in a one-room hut with cows, chickens and pigs.
Peasants did different tasks at different times of the year; in spring and autumn they ploughed and harvested, while other parts of the year they weeded, repaired fenced, or did other chores. Few peasants lived beyond the age of 35, as disease took a heavy toll, and hunger was common.
Marriages and births were celebrated though, and breaks in Christmas and Easter could last a week off from work. Other festivals could reward with work off. |
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